Skis, again sorry

Hi all,
I'm looking for some advices about skis. I consider myself an upper intermediate skier i.e. I really enjoy fast reds and easier blacks. I can get down tough blacks without too much trouble but without much style.

Last year I set off on my rented 165 skis (I'm 5'8" and weigh 13 stone ish)and felt that I couldn't control them properly, they didn't want to turn and seemed to "make" me ski very fast without feeling in control.

I went back to the shop and told the guy there what I had found. He asked me if I was a beginner and that if not I should be ok. He was fine about it but puzzled and gave me some easier skis. I then went from being barely in control to quite a good skier and immediately did a 360 half way down a blue to celebrate.

Unfortunately i can't remember what either of the skis were :( but i do know what I had the previous year which were Atomic Metron 7s http://www.ski-review.com/content/view/226/30/ and they were great for me as far as I can see.

What I can't understand is what benefit I would get from more advanced skis?

Maybe I'm not as good as I think I am but I'm really not a beginner. I've been down the Face at val D'Isere, the Tunnel at Alpe D'Huez and even the Tiger at Glenshee (Pablo will tell you about that one)

I guess its something to do with my technique or lack of it but how will I know if the skis I'm using are too easy for my skiing level?

Thanks in advance :-)

Tiger at Glenshee, the chairlift is Clyde built :lol:

For more stability go for something a little fatter than you may be used to (high 70's/low 80's)

Best thing to do is to try a few different pairs and make your own mind up... do you have a snowdome nearby?

Mike, you say that the first skis did not want to turn. I would guess that they had a much larger sidecut radius than your previous skis. Going from a 13M to a Twenty meter would need a huge difference in skiing style and ability. Combine this with an increase in stiffness, and you have quite a leap. I would make a note of the side cut radius, and length of each ski you use. Move up in small increments if you want to go straighter/ longer, or stay on a smaller radius, and just get a stiffer ski, as you improve.

Trencher

Thanks guys

Pablo, yes I live near Manchester but can you really tell anything on such short run?

I think what I'm struggling with is how do I know when I need to move up to better skis?

It depends what you mean by better skis. Beginer skis should have a soft flex, so it is easy to pressure them in turns. The pressure you apply to the ski will make the ski bend to the shape of the turn. As you get better at skiing, you are able to apply more pressure, and control that pressure. Not only do have to bend the ski, but also you have to be able to control the rebound as the ski finishes the turn, and the pressure is released. If you are skiing confidently on soft flex skis, it's time to take on a stiffer flex. At first this might feel like the skis are fighting back, but you will soon get used to it.

Many modern skis have very exotic constructions. Often what you are paying for in more expensive skis is technology and better materials. These actually make skiing easier. You should maybe look at skis described by the manufacturers as For intermediate skiers, and go for best you can afford. Pick something that is aimed at the type of skiing you want to do.

Trencher

Mike, are you thinking of buying or continuing to rent?

I think I'll keep renting until I understand more about them. I still have a pair of long skinny skis in the loft. To be fair they easily paid for themselves and I had a lot of fun on them in my Nevica jacket :-)

Mike3000 wrote:I think I'll keep renting until I understand more about them. I still have a pair of long skinny skis in the loft. To be fair they easily paid for themselves and I had a lot of fun on them in my Nevica jacket :-)

Ok, in which case go to the hire shop, tell them what you can ski and what level you think you are, and they should make a couple of suggestions.